How Much Does a Custom Closet Cost? I Need More Storage!

Maybe because of the Marie Kondo craze, or because of everyone spending more time at home and rethinking how they are using their space, closet organizing is on the rise. In fact, the demand for home organization projects — like custom closets — is expected to reach $12.7 billion by 2023, according to the business research company The Freedonia Group. Adding organization to a closet can also be a draw to potential buyers when you are selling your home.

Your dream custom closet could cost anywhere from $1,200 to $20,000 according to Home Depot. But with that kind of price range, you’ll probably need more info before you can decide if making the shift to a truly organized closet is worth the investment. 

But first, declutter

To get that custom closet installed, you’ll need to take everything out of your closet. If that seems like a bit of a nightmare, don’t worry. Going through everything in your closet can help you figure out what type of storage you need in your new closet. You can follow the lead of Marie Kondo and her KonMari method by going through items by category (such as sweaters) and then creating piles for keep, donate, and toss. Items in your keep pile are those items that “spark joy.” After this process, you can figure out if you need more drawers, how much space you need for hanging clothes, and whether you need specific storage for scarves, ties, or other accessories. You can also see how much space you really have to work with once you get everything out of your closet and organized. 

Reach-in 

When you think of a standard closet in a hallway or bedroom, that’s a reach-in closet that ranges from around 6 by 2 feet to 8 by 3 feet. While you may not have a lot of real estates to work with, the right organization can give you just the transformation you need. These types of closets will have room for one or two shelving units with customizable shelves and drawers, plus one or two rods for hanging clothes. For the larger size, with adjustable shelving and rods, you could be in the $1,000 to $2,000 price range for a reach-in organizational upgrade. 

Walk-in Custom Closet

If you have the space, and a lot of stuff, you might consider a walk-in closet, either by working with what you already have or by adding one to a large room. Real estate agents will tell you that a walk-in closet can be transformed with the right organization. Walk-in closets will vary in size — from the small end at 6 by 6 feet to 15 by 12 feet or larger. You’ll have more space to get creative with drawers, cupboards, shelves, and hanging rods, and adequate lighting will also be a must. A large walk-in closet could be in the $5,000 to $7,000 price range.

Dressing room

For the ultimate luxury, you can transform your walk-in closet into a full-on dressing room, or a room into your dream closet. These types of closets can have areas for handbags and shoes as well as mirrors to check your outfits as you are getting ready. If you are opting for this kind of upgrade then you might want to get 3-D CAD renderings that can show you how the closet can look, as part of the design process.

Whether you want a luxury closet or just a space that is a bit easier to find what you need in the morning, there are plenty of closet options to consider, but first, you have to get that stuff organized so you know what you have to work with.